Writer exaggerates Iditarod facts

Letter to the editor

Posted: Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Margery Glickman states that 53 percent of the dogs who start the Iditarod race do not finish it (letters to the editor, Oct. 10). What she fails to explain is the reason for that percentage. She wants people to think that 53 percent die. In fact, while the mushers start with 16 dogs, that many are not needed for the entire race; only to get over the Alaska Range. Once that is achieved, dogs are dropped at check points for various reasons. Sometimes there are health problems. Sometimes a dog is just tired.

If Ms. Glickman could ever get her facts straight, people might take her more seriously. Oh, I forgot. It's hard to take someone seriously who has never even been to see the race. Better for Ms. Glickman to stay in Florida and see what she can do about dog abuse among the greyhounds.